SALVATIERRA, GUANAJUATO, MEXICO – DECEMBER 17, 2023 What was meant to be a joyful December night – filled with music, laughter, and friends – ended in blood and chaos. On December 16, 2023, dozens of young people gathered at the old San José del Carmen hacienda in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, to celebrate a traditional Mexican Christmas posada. It was supposed to be harmless fun – until an uninvited group showed up.
According to witnesses, a group of armed men tried to enter the party but were turned away by the organizers. Minutes later, they came back – this time carrying assault rifles. Without saying a word, they opened fire on the crowd. The sound of laughter turned to screams as bullets tore through the night.
Group photo of the victims of the attack
When it was over, eleven young people were dead – nine men and two women. Several others were wounded. Among the victims were students, professionals, and even former local beauty queens. Before fleeing, the attackers set cars and motorcycles on fire, blocking the exits and trapping the survivors in the chaos.
By the time police arrived, the scene looked like a war zone – blood on the floor, walls riddled with bullet holes, tables and chairs overturned. Authorities later said the massacre was likely tied to ongoing turf wars between criminal groups fighting for control in the Laja-Bajío region.
Two suspects – a woman named Paloma “N” and a man known as “El Borre” – were arrested in early 2024, but the legal process has dragged on. Hearings have been delayed, and for the families of the victims, the wait for justice feels endless.
